Average Salary in Newfoundland and Labrador

Introduction

Newfoundland and Labrador, located in eastern Canada, has a population of just over 500,000 people. It is known for its natural resource industries, including oil and gas production, mining, fishing and forestry. These industries contribute significantly to the province’s economy and impact average salary levels.

This article will provide an in-depth look at the average salary in Newfoundland and Labrador, including breakdowns by industry, occupation, and geographic area. We’ll examine the highest and lowest paying jobs, factors influencing wages, and recent trends. Read on for a comprehensive overview of incomes and earning potential in Canada’s most easterly province.

What is the Average Salary in Newfoundland and Labrador?  

According to Statistics Canada, the average weekly wage in Newfoundland and Labrador is $1,218.75. This translates to an annual average salary of approximately $63,375. The median weekly wage in N.L. is slightly lower at $1,050 per week or $54,600 annually.

Compared to the national average, salary in Newfoundland and Labrador tend to be lower. The average weekly wage across Canada is $1,232.22 or $64,075 annually. The median wage is $1,078.35 per week or $56,075 per year.

Several factors contribute to the lower than average salaries in N.L., including a higher unemployment rate, more seasonal industries, and fewer major urban centers compared to other parts of Canada. However, there is still good earning potential in certain occupations and industries, as we’ll explore in this article.

Highest Paying Cities/Municipalities in Newfoundland and Labrador

While St. John’s has the highest salaries overall, several other cities and towns across Newfoundland and Labrador also offer strong earnings potential and above average wages.

St. John’s

As the capital and largest city in the province, St. John’s provides the highest wages, with an average of approximately CAD 55,000 to CAD 70,000 per year across occupations. Major industries like finance, healthcare, education, government services, and oil and gas operations located in and around St. John’s boost salaries for professionals in these sectors.

Mount Pearl

Bordering St. John’s, the city of Mount Pearl has an average annual salary of around CAD 55,000 to CAD 65,000. Major retail employers like big box stores and auto dealerships combined with light industrial businesses contribute to solid earning potential, especially for sales, service and trades jobs.

Conception Bay South

This suburb of St. John’s is home to a large oil refinery and other manufacturing employers. Jobs in trades, transportation, construction and production provide average salaries of close to CAD 50,000 to CAD 65,000.

Corner Brook

As a major port city on the west coast, Corner Brook offers average annual wages of approximately CAD 50,000 to CAD 60,000. The paper mill and related forestry jobs as well as public sector and service jobs across retail, healthcare and education comprise the top industries.

Labrador City

Located in western Labrador, this city of 10,000 residents has average salaries of around CAD 60,000 to CAD 75,000 per year. The economy and higher than average wages are driven largely by the iron ore mining sector which employs thousands of skilled professionals.

In summary, St. John’s, as the main urban hub, offers the highest overall salaries, while industry concentrations in areas like oil, mining, forestry, public services and construction contribute to strong wages in other cities across Newfoundland and Labrador.

Labour Force Estimates for Newfoundland and Labrador by Industry

According to Statistics Canada, the total labour force across all industries in Newfoundland and Labrador is estimated to be 218,000 persons in 2023. The goods-producing sectors account for 44,600 jobs, while the services-producing sectors make up 173,400 positions.

Goods-Producing Sectors in Newfoundland and Labrador

Within the goods-producing industries, the breakdown of employment in Newfoundland and Labrador for 2023 is:

• Agriculture: 1,100 persons
• Forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas: 15,100 persons
• Utilities: 2,400 persons
• Construction: 16,700 persons
• Manufacturing: 9,300 persons

The forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying, oil and gas sector is the largest component, reflecting the importance of natural resource extraction in the provincial economy. Construction also accounts for significant employment, linked to demands from the mining, oil and public infrastructure sectors. Manufacturing jobs are concentrated in Corner Brook’s paper mill and other light industries.

Service-Producing Sectors in Newfoundland and Labrador

Looking at the estimated 173,400 jobs in the service sector for 2023, the leading industries are:

• Health care and social assistance: 42,400 persons
• Public administration: 21,000 persons
• Educational services: 16,800 persons
• Retail and wholesale trade: 34,500 persons
• Transportation and warehousing: 11,700 persons
• Accommodation and food services: 13,700 persons

Health care, education, public service and retail trade make up over half of all service sector employment in Newfoundland and Labrador. Transportation jobs support the movement of goods from resource industries, while tourism operators account for accommodation and food services positions.

In summary, natural resources, construction, healthcare, public administration and education represent the major sources of employment across goods and service industries in Newfoundland and Labrador’s estimated 2023 labour force.

Average Salaries by Industry in Newfoundland and Labrador

There is a wide range of salaries across industries in Newfoundland and Labrador. The goods-producing sectors generally offer higher average wages, while service industry jobs fall on the lower end of the pay scale.

Average Salaries In Goods-Producing Sectors in N.L.

The goods-producing industries pay the highest average weekly wages in the province at $1,793.67. The sectors and their associated average weekly salaries are:

• Agriculture – $1,106.87 weekly. Includes fishing, animal production and crop farming.
• Forestry and logging – $2,397.30 weekly. Encompasses forest management, logging operations and wood product manufacturing.
• Fishing, hunting and trapping – $2,397.30 weekly. Commercial fishing activities for species like crab, shrimp and pelagics.
• Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction – $2,397.30 weekly. Offshore oil production, mineral mining, and quarrying of stone and aggregates.
• Utilities – $1,848.33 weekly. Electric power generation, transmission and distribution utilities.
• Construction – $1,524.74 weekly. Building construction, heavy engineering construction and trade contractors.
• Manufacturing – $1,360.01 weekly. Food processing, metal fabrication, machinery and paper manufacturing.

These natural resource-based sectors benefit from Newfoundland and Labrador’s abundance of mineral resources, offshore oil reserves, vast forests, rich fishing grounds and hydroelectric assets.

Average Salaries In Service-Producing Sectors in N.L.

Average weekly wages in the services-producing sector are $1,070.87 across Newfoundland and Labrador. The industries and their associated salaries are:

• Wholesale trade – $743.55 weekly. Wholesalers of food, machinery, electronics and other products.
• Retail trade – $743.55 weekly. Salespersons, managers and support roles in retail stores.
• Transportation and warehousing – $1,306.44 weekly. Trucking, marine transport, air transport and storage services.
• Finance and insurance – $1,285.99 weekly. Banking, insurance providers, investment firms and pension funds.
• Real estate and rental and leasing – $1,285.99 weekly. Property management, realtors and equipment rental services.
• Professional, scientific and technical services – $1,563.72 weekly. Lawyers, accountants, architects, engineers and consultants.
• Management of companies and enterprises – $1,145.44 weekly. Centralized management offices and head offices.
• Administrative and support, waste management – $1,145.44 weekly. HR services, security, landscaping and office administration.
• Educational services – $1,341.63 weekly. Primary, secondary and post-secondary teaching institutions.
• Health care and social assistance – $1,056.98 weekly. Hospitals, nursing homes, social services and ambulatory care.
• Arts, entertainment and recreation – $897.62 weekly. Performing arts, promoters, museums and recreation facilities.
• Accommodation and food services – $539.30 weekly. Hotels, restaurants, bars and caterers.
• Other services (except public administration) – $984.75 weekly. Repair services, personal care, religious and civic organizations.
• Public administration – $1,435.14 weekly. Federal, provincial and local government services.

In general, professional services, finance, education and healthcare offer above average salaries, while retail, food service and tourism fall below the provincial wage levels.

Average Salaries by Occupation in Newfoundland and Labrador

Looking at average salaries by occupation, there is a wide range in Newfoundland and Labrador. Some of the highest paying jobs on an annual basis include:

• Senior managers – financial, communications and other business services: ~ $159,900
• Engineering managers: ~ $124,800
• Computer and information systems managers: ~ $124,800
• Petroleum engineers: ~ $128,000
• Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine: ~ $245,344
• Specialists in surgery: ~ $349,462
• General practitioners and family physicians: ~ $202,089
• Dentists: ~ $180,000
• Engineer officers, water transport: ~ $90,600

These occupations in management, engineering, healthcare and natural resources tend to offer the strongest earnings potential.

Some of the lowest paying occupations on an annual basis are:

• Cashiers ~ $32,400
• Food Counter Attendants ~ $32,400
• Hairstylists ~ $32,400
• Taxi Drivers ~ $32,400
• Labourers in fish and seafood processing: ~ $34,528
• Nursery and greenhouse labourers: ~ $32,448
• Food and beverage servers: ~ $32,448
• Tour and travel guides: ~ $33,280
• Cooks: ~ $32,448
• Restaurant and food service managers: ~ $40,038
• Shippers and receivers: ~ $37,440
• Fish and seafood plant workers: ~ $34,528

(source: https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/wagereport/location/nl)

Jobs in food services, tourism, retail, and manual labour tend to fall on the lower end of the pay scale. However, tipped positions like food and beverage servers can sometimes earn more with gratuities.

To summarize, Newfoundland and Labrador offers high earning potential in fields like engineering, healthcare, natural resources and management. But customer service, food services and manual labor roles tend to have lower salaries.

Factors Influencing Wages in Newfoundland and Labrador

What determines the salaries associated with particular jobs and industries in Newfoundland and Labrador? Here are some of the key factors:

• Experience and education – Higher skill levels and years of experience tend to increase earning potential. Fields like healthcare and technology require specialized training and education.
• Industry demand – When certain industries are growing or facing labour shortages, salaries tend to rise. For example, construction wages have increased amidst skilled worker shortages.
• Location – As noted, larger urban centers like St. John’s tend to pay higher wages across most occupations. Specific industries drive wages in different towns.
• Unionization – Newfoundland and Labrador has higher than average union membership at 39%, which helps push up salaries through collective bargaining. (source: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/36-28-0001/2022011/article/00001-eng.htm)
• Covid impacts – The pandemic affected some sectors more than others. Tourism and service industries faced setbacks while tech wages grew.

Understanding these factors provides context on what impacts average salaries in N.L. for different professions.

Salary Growth Trends in Newfoundland and Labrador

Statistics Canada data shows that average weekly wages for all employees in Newfoundland and Labrador have increased over the past two decades:

• In 2002, the average weekly wage was $567.79. This grew moderately through the 2000s.
• By 2008, the average wage reached $753.14 per week. However, wage growth then stagnated due to the 2009 recession.
• From 2011 to 2013, average weekly earnings rose from $857.11 to $965.22 as the economy recovered. But growth leveled off again between 2013 and 2016.
• In 2017, the average weekly wage finally surpassed $1,000, hitting $1,015.32 that year.
• From 2017 to 2019, wage growth was modest, with the 2019 average reaching $1,027.24.
• A spike occurred in 2020, with average weekly wages rising to $1,070.47, likely due to impacts of the pandemic.
• Momentum continued into 2021 and 2022, with average weekly earnings climbing to $1,218.75 in 2023.

Provincial Comparison (2023)

Compared to other provinces, Newfoundland and Labrador ranks in the middle for average weekly wages in 2023:

• Alberta: $1,322.57
• Ontario: $1,278.16
• British Columbia: $1,265.38
• Newfoundland and Labrador: $1,218.75
• Nova Scotia: $1,068.92

Newfoundland and Labrador’s average salary is higher than that of neighbouring Atlantic provinces but lower than that of leading western provinces. The dominance of natural resource industries helps boost wages. However, a lack of major urban centers and reliance on seasonal industries suppresses wage growth relative to provinces like Alberta.

Conclusion and Future Outlook For Average Salary in Newfoundland and Labrador

In summary, average salaries in Newfoundland and Labrador remain below the national level, but offer strong earnings potential in certain growing industries and occupations. Natural resources, construction, healthcare, technology and skilled trades emerge as high paying fields.

Looking ahead, offshore oil activity, mining, greenhouse projects and renewable energy present positive outlooks. Continued public and private investment will be key for future job and wage growth. With expanded training initiatives, the province can build the skilled workforce needed to fill in-demand roles.

For individuals considering opportunities in Newfoundland and Labrador, factors like location, sector demand, and skill development can all influence your potential salary. Understanding average incomes by industry and occupation combined with job growth prospects provide helpful insight on navigating the province’s job market.

For a broader national outlook, see our detailed overview of average salary in Canada, as well as breakdowns for each province:

• Average Salary in British Columbia
• Average Salary in Alberta
• Average Salary in Quebec
• Average Salary in Saskatchewan
• Average Salary in Manitoba
• Average Salary in New Brunswick
• Average Salary in Nova Scotia
• Average Salary in Prince Edward Island
• Average Salary in Ontario

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